Lupus Foundation of America Honors Carrie P. Meek; Photo Available 5/9/2003
From: Duane Peters of the Lupus Foundation of America, 301-670-9292 ext. 17, or 703-606-2692; email: peters@lupus.org MIAMI, May 9 -- Former Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek was honored this week by the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) at its inaugural Champion to Champion Awards Gala in Washington, DC. The Gala paid tribute to Congresswoman Meek for providing exceptional leadership and commitment to improving the health and quality of life for millions of Americans affected by lupus, an autoimmune disease that affects 1.5 million Americans. Congresswoman Meek, who lost a sister to the disease, championed the Lupus Research and Care Amendments Act while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. Meek worked tirelessly each session of Congress, continuing to increase visibility for lupus and support for the legislation among her Capitol Hill colleagues. She sponsored congressional briefings and invited some of the nation's leading medical experts and individuals affected by lupus to testify on the impact of the disease. On and off the House floor, Congresswoman Meek promoted the legislation and recruited 250 additional members of Congress to co-sponsor the legislation. Enacted into law in October 2000, the Lupus Research and Care Amendments Act authorized additional federal funds for lupus research, as well as medical and social services for people with lupus. Actress and model Tomiko Fraser presented Congresswoman Meek with the Advocacy Award during the Gala. Tomiko is the first African American woman to land a much-coveted contract with Maybelline cosmetics and made her film debut opposite Freddie Prinze Jr. and Monica Porter in Universal Studio's Head Over Heels. Tomiko also serves as a national spokesperson for the Lupus Foundation of America to support her sister who is seriously ill from lupus. Congresswoman Meek recently was elected to serve on the LFA National Board of Directors. The Gala proceeds will support research and public and professional education programs of the Lupus Foundation of America, the nation's leading non-profit voluntary health organization dedicated solely to lupus. Lupus is a widespread, life-diminishing, and potentially life-threatening disease that causes the immune system to attack the body's own tissues and organs, such as the kidneys, heart, lungs, brain, blood, or skin. The disease strikes mostly women in their childbearing years and is two to three times more common among African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans than among Caucasians. Photos of Congresswoman Meek accepting her award can be downloaded at http://www.wirepix.com/newsphotos/USN. |